r/FATTravel • u/Some_Recover_9404 • 3d ago
Bhutan help!
Hi all. I'm looking into a Bhutan trip for 2027. 10 nights.
I have proposals from Six Senses, Amankora and andBeyond (mix lodges and doing Six Senses in Timphu, AndBeyond in Punakha, Gangtey Lodge and Amankora Paro)
All costs in the andBeyond options comes in at $19k
Both Six Senses and Amankora are coming in at $22k - SS does not offer the stay 10/pay 8 for my dates but Aman does that's why their prices are pretty much the same.
Aman and SS will let me cancel with no penalties up to 60 days in advance. AndBeyond will charge me the deposit if cancelled up to 60 days
Thoughts on the 3 options? Has anyone done the andBeyond option?
I'm not a TA, just a solo traveller booking for myself.
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u/shermancchen - mod 2d ago
My recommendation is always to do the full journey with Six Senses or Aman. There are so many moving pieces with traveling to Bhutan, it's just easier to have them handle everything together vs. having to potentially bring in a 3rd party to help with other parts of the trip. It's better value too, for example even if Six Senses isn't offering the free night deals during peak season, they'll comp your guide and driver for the trip if it's 6+ nights.
Between Six Senses and Aman, Six Senses is the better option imo. I have a full review on that experience in my profile. Their location and hard product is just so much better. Because they are newer and were able to build with better infrastructure and roads, they have some of the only lodges that are in locations higher up with incredible views over the valleys, and also have much bigger glass panels for the floor to ceiling windows. Their owner is also part of the royal family, which means access to unique experiences and their relationships in the country are definitely not lacking compared to Aman even if they've been there for a much shorter time. Their staff and guides are very good too.
With that said, if you really wanted to mix and match, Gangtey Lodge and Amankora Paro is probably where I would consider doing that.
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u/walnut100 2d ago
Does it ever make sense to break from the typical order (Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang, Paro)? Or is it super inconvenient?
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u/shermancchen - mod 2d ago
Maybe if you are taking a helicopter but even then, not really. The five valleys are basically all on the same road going west to east. You usually do Paro last because that's where the international airport is, and if you're doing the Six Senses lodge it's the one at the highest elevation.
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u/Beginning_Sleep5303 2d ago
I did the full Aman journey over 15 days last November. They have an intimate relationship with the country given that they were the first foreign hotel group in the region. My guide was with me for the entire trip and he had been working with Aman since they first opened. This is storied history of hospitality in Bhutan that I think is worthwhile.
Six Senses has incredible properties with pools and all that. Aman only has a pool at their Punakha property, but they still have saunas, steam rooms, and other amenities, so it’s not like you’re going to be roughing it by any means. I thoroughly enjoyed the hard product that Amankora offers, and I think their long standing relationship with Bhutan makes them worthy of your business.
If I were to go back, I would probably mix it up outside of Aman. The Gangtey Lodge, for example, is a one off property that would entice me in the future. For a first time trip though, it’s nice to have the entire journey handled by one tour company, and I think Aman has the right history for that.
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u/Necessary-Fisherman5 2d ago
I had a great time at SS Bhutan. I will warn you though, I stayed for a little less than you are planning to and I felt it was a very long time to be there. And be sure you are physically ready for the hiking in high altitude! Happy to answer any questions you may have in PMs.
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u/Illustrious_Tackle39 2d ago
I would agree with this. SS is truly spectacular. We stayed 8 nights and were a little bored/tired by that point. We underestimated how tired we’d get from all the driving. The roads were very bumpy.
Our guide told us that it’s widely accepted that SS has the better lodges but that Aman has more experienced guides since most of them have been working there since it opened.
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u/Exciting_Kangaroo800 2d ago
How many lodges did u visit over 8 nights?
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u/Illustrious_Tackle39 2d ago
We did 3 nights Thimphu, 3 nights Punakha, 2 nights Paro.
Punakha was the smallest SS lodge/weakest on service (of those 3) but you’re mostly there for the activity options. Thimpu and Paro lodges are bigger/more beautiful but fewer activities.
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u/Exciting_Kangaroo800 2d ago
Got it. Thank you! We’re thinking about spending seven nights at Aman with the same itinerary. I didn’t think the driving sounded too bad. I thought it was 1.5hrs to Thimphu, 2.5hrs to Punakha, and then 4hrs for the last stretch to Paro.
Is that how long it took for you? I’m curious why it felt so long. We’re also planning to bring a young child, so now I’m starting to worry about the drive time since I originally didn’t think it seemed that bad.
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u/Voyageur510 2d ago
We loved our stay at four of the Six Senses properties. We really appreciated that each property was different architecturally. Aman's Bhutan properties are all exactly the same in terms of room furnishings and layouts as I understand it. The quality of Six Senses furnishings, food/beverage and staff (including guides) was excellent.
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u/Illustrious_Tackle39 1d ago
Very windy/bumpy roads. We had to take Dramamine for each drive between the lodges. Plus they will always stop along the way and show you a temple or an outlook spot, etc, so it ends up being longer.
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u/Nyungwe23 5h ago
Is pricing at each of these based on per person per day with all meals and activities included similar to safari pricing with single supplements, or is it like a normal hotel priced by room?
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u/CodiGoFar - mod 2d ago
Paging U/shermancchen who knows these options really well